Kwara PDP Pressures AbdulRazaq Over Doctors' Ongoing Warning Strike

The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly advised Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to promptly address the concerns of medical doctors currently on strike. The party cautioned that this industrial action could severely impact healthcare services and expose patients to unnecessary risks.

In a statement released on Saturday by its State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Adewara, the PDP criticized the state government for allegedly failing to resolve the doctors' welfare issues, despite a 14-day ultimatum issued before the warning strike commenced. Doctors, organized under the Kwara Doctors Forum, began a seven-day warning strike on Thursday. Their grievances include deductions from their salaries for the Kwara Health Insurance Scheme (KwaraCare), outstanding allowances, the non-implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), and insufficient recruitment of medical personnel.

The Kwara Doctors Forum comprises various professional bodies, including the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCN), the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), and the Association of Resident Doctors, KWASUTH (ARD, KWASUTH). This strike followed the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum given to the state government on October 1st. Adeola Olasinde, Chairman of MDCN, confirmed that the association's congress approved the strike on October 14th.

Key demands from the doctors include the reversal of a two percent salary deduction for KwaraCare, the full implementation of CONMESS, payment of outstanding accoutrement allowance arrears for 2025 and 2026, and the recruitment of house officers, medical officers, resident doctors, and consultants across all government-owned health facilities.

Responding to the situation, the PDP asserted that the doctors' grievances were legitimate and required immediate attention, contrasting this with what it described as the government's silence. The party stated, “We’ve studied the doctors’ grievances, and we believe they are genuine and deserve urgent attention and not cold silence that the government is giving them.” The PDP further criticized the administration for not utilizing the 14-day ultimatum period to engage the doctors and prevent the disruption of medical services. “The government had 14 days to address these concerns before the warning strike commenced. A responsible administration should have used that window to engage the doctors, resolve the outstanding issues and prevent any disruption to healthcare services,” the statement added.

The PDP also highlighted concerns about inadequate remuneration, poor medical infrastructure, and increasing workloads faced by doctors. It warned that these conditions could make it difficult for Kwara State to retain experienced medical professionals and attract new ones. The party claimed that Kwara State has approximately 362 medical doctors serving a population of about 4.2 million, a stark contrast to an estimated 1,500 doctors in neighboring Osun State, which reportedly has a smaller population. This disparity, the PDP argued, underscores the need for the state government to bolster its medical workforce through recruitment, improved salaries, and better working conditions.

Recalling a time when Kwara was a preferred destination for medical services from neighboring states, the PDP cautioned that the continuous exodus of medical personnel, coupled with insufficient investment in healthcare facilities, could severely weaken the state’s healthcare system. A prolonged strike, the party warned, would worsen access to essential medical services, especially for patients requiring emergency treatment and specialized care.

The PDP also questioned the reported movement of ₦200 million in cash by the governor for political activities, suggesting that such resources would be better allocated to addressing urgent public needs, including improving healthcare infrastructure, providing medical equipment, recruiting more health workers, and settling outstanding welfare concerns.

Expressing solidarity with doctors and other health workers in the state, who continue to bear significant responsibilities under challenging circumstances, the PDP urged Governor AbdulRazaq’s administration to implement swift and practical measures to resolve the dispute, meet the doctors' demands, and ensure their prompt return to work to prevent further disruptions to healthcare services in Kwara State.